15 Service Dog List of All Time

Dogs and Human beings have the strong bond since an ancient time. Generally, dogs are amazing and specialized to perform as the service dogs. They are individually trained to perform the specific task for individual who suffers disability.

Not just in the medical field, they are even performing in the military sector for a long time. Here we have listed 12 different service dogs that are professionally trained to perform their individual task.

1. Police dog

Police dogs are specially trained to assists police and other law-enforcement people. In other words, they are known as K-9 or K9.

German shepherd, Belgian Malinois, and Rottweiler are the most common dogs recruited in Police force. Beside this, Labrador retriever and bloodhound also made the list.

These breeds are specially trained for searching drugs and explosive, tracing a missing person, finding crime scene evidence, and most importantly protecting their handlers. Basically, they are recalling verbal clues and hand gestures.

To be a police dog, a dog needs to pass basic training tests. Basically, they are given a command in their own native language. Precisely, police dogs are trained in various languages, so they will not follow the suspect’s instructions.

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2. Search and rescue dog

Search and rescue (SAR) dogs are specially trained to track the missing person in a natural disaster, mass casualty events, and wilderness track. For effective result, both the handlers as well as well-trained dogs are required.

Basically, search and rescue dogs typically work for the small teams. They detect human odor including their skin cells, respiratory gases, evaporated sweat and decomposition gases that are released by human tissues and skin.

Specifically, Search and Rescue dogs are trained for the avalanche, water and rubble searches. They are classified as tracking dogs and air-scenting dogs.

Herding and sporting dogs such as German or Belgian Shepherd, Border Collies, Tollers, Golden Retriever, Labradors or Springer Spaniels are heavily bred for SAR Jobs.

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3. Hearing dog

Hearing dogs are specially trained to assist the Deaf or hard of Hearing people. Specifically, they used to alert their handlers to some significant sounds including doorbells, telephone rings, and smoke alarms.

Moreover, they are also capable enough to work outside the house alerting their handlers from the sounds such as if the person is calling, vehicle sound or sirens.

Prior to reward them the title of Hearing dog, they are tested for smart personality, sound reactivity and especially working enthusiasm. They are professionally trained for at least three months. However, some are trained for a year.

5. Therapy dog

Therapy dogs are given special training to deliver love and affection to the people in a home, school, disaster areas and hospitals. Besides this, they also aid the people with anxiety disorder or autism.

Especially, golden Retrievers are mostly preferred for this work as they possess calm and friendly instinct.

Even though Therapy dogs are not included in the list of service dogs, they can still be available in some organizations. The service dogs are officially banned from therapy dogs programs by United States-based therapy Dogs International (TDI). Specially,

If we see them in US context, Therapy Dogs are not given the same privilege like the service dogs. By the Americans with Disabilities, the act of 1990, service dogs are protected at the federal level in U.S.

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6. Military dog

Military Dogs are specially trained for battle. In ancient time, they were known as War Dogs. Military dogs have a long history as they are trained for a varied purpose such as Scout, Sentries, and trackers.

Even Roman and Greek civilization had used large mastiff dogs to kill the enemy in the war. In World War II, military dogs were used to pull the cart. Tracking dogs are specialized in tracking the underground mines.

Some of Scout military dogs are specially trained to detect the lobby traps and concealed enemies with snipers. These dogs have high sensibility compared to a human. They have passive tracking dogs and have aggressive Instinct.

They can easily sense the threat within the radar of 1,000 yards. At present, most of the military digs perform as trackers, Search and Rescue, Mascot. Especially, Dutch and German shepherd and Belgian Malinois are preferred for this job.

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7. Psychiatric service dog

A Psychiatric service dog is specially trained to assists the people suffering from a psychiatric infirmity that include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

These dogs deliver an innocuous presence to calm the patient. They are professionally well-trained to perform the task. As these service dogs remind the patient to take the medicine, retrieving the object and guiding the handlers from the stressful situation.

There is no specific breed of dogs preferred for this job. Any breeds of dogs are suitable to perform this task if they are trained by the professional trainers.

8. Seizure response dog

Seizure response dogs are specialized to perform during the time when a person suffers Seizure. If these dogs are professionally trained then they can even assist the people with epilepsy.

During the time when people suffer, these Seizure response dogs try to find someone for help, use their weight to balance the patient body and try to remove the patient from the insecure location.

There are also Seizure alert dogs who act before the person suffers epileptic Seizure. Even though these dogs are well trained to anticipate epileptic seizures, but their ability is still questionable.

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9. Mobility assistance dog

Mobility assistance dogs are specifically trained to assist physically disabled people, especially people who have mobility issues. These service dogs are trained to pull the wheelchair delivering the proper balance and stability.

They are well-trained to open and shut the door and switch the light on and off. Special types of clothes are developed for these dogs that have attached handles. A disabled man can hold the handle when the dog walk.

In many countries, disabled people are allowed to bring their mobility assistance dogs to the public places where animals are not permitted such as public transport, restaurant, and hotels.

10. Diabetes alert dog

Diabetes alert dogs are given special training to detect the blood sugar level of their handlers. They help the patient to take possible steps to retain the normal level.

As, these dogs remind them to take glucose, tablets, sugar, and carbohydrate-rich food in order to maintain their sugar level. They even remind their owner to take the insulin.

Whenever the patient/handler experience hypoglycemia, i.e. type 1 diabetes then the diabetes alert dog starts to perform the predetermined duty. They start to bark, sit or lay down on the ground to inform their owner.

In 2003, California dog named Armstrong was first professionally trained dog to detect hypoglycemia. The first British diabetes alert dog called Tinker was able to alert his owner in every half an hour before an attack occurred. Tinker was officially registered as the type 2 diabetic alert dog.

12. Autism service dog

Autism service dogs are specially trained to support an autistic person. They help them to gain their independence and ability to perform their day to day task just like other peoples.

They are trained to perform their task similar to other service dogs for sensory processing disorder. Basically, they are trained with a focus to protect the children. They often alert the parents about the danger regarding the child.

In 1997, National Service Dogs trained the first autism dogs and paired with the child. If we consult the market then these dogs cost around $12,000 to $30,000. Not only that, you even have to wait for your turn to get this service dog.